北方铁路——”曼联“

【导读】一项成功的基础设施建设将会促进一个地区的经济发展,而英国北部地区的铁路建设计划似乎即将再一次印证这一点。

Railways in the north
北方铁路

Manchester united
”曼联“

A good, cheap infrastructure project that should transform a region
又好又省的基础设施建设能够改变一个地区

Mar 16th 2013 | MANCHESTER |From the print edition

FOR £33 billion ($49 billion) and a 20-year wait, Britain is to get a high-speed rail line connecting London to the north of England. For £32 billion-odd less than that sum, it gets the Northern Hub【1】. Far less controversial or glamorous—the funding process was a bit like a church-roof appeal at first, says Chris Fletcher of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce—the project is a terrific example of the kind of infrastructure that Britain badly needs to build.
筹集了330亿英镑(490亿美元)经费,等待了20年,现在,英国终将开始建设一条连接伦敦与英格兰北部地区的高速铁路。其中的320亿英镑—少于总预算——花在了北部交通枢纽项目上。克里斯·弗莱彻,曼彻斯特商会的一员,表示:”融资过程一开始有点像为教堂修缮屋顶募集。“因为这项工程是英国亟需建设的基础设施中的典型,所以没有引起争议或惊起波澜。

b_large_WWkf_7a70000013ba1262.jpg

It consists of a series of schemes aimed at improving railway travel around Manchester, the north of England’s most successful city. One of them, the building of a short curved section of track known as the “Ordsall chord” (see map), might appear humdrum. But in providing the missing link in a loop between Piccadilly and Victoria, the main stations, it completes a direct line through the city that connects the airport in the south with suburbs to the north. New platforms will be built at Piccadilly and at the airport. Capacity will also be added elsewhere to cut journey times to cities such as Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle. Network Rail, the owner and operator of Britain’s railway infrastructure, reckons the Northern Hub’s £600m improvements will deliver a boost to the economy four times that sum.
这项工程由一系列旨在提升曼彻斯特周边铁路运力的规划组成,而曼市是英格兰北部最繁荣的城市。其中的一项名为“Ordsall chord”(见地图)的规划,一条蜿蜒的短线路建设,可能看起来有些乏味。但它能够补上两个主站——皮卡迪利街站与维多利亚大街——之间缺失的一环,从而使得南部的机场与北部的郊区间的线路得以贯通。机场与皮卡迪利大街站都将建设新的站台。工程还将着力于降低利物浦、谢菲尔德、纽卡斯尔等城市间的旅行时间。英国铁路基建的所有方与运营方认为,北方交通枢纽项目所花费的6亿英镑投资将带来四倍于投资额的经济增长。

Whereas HS2, Britain’s planned high-speed rail line, will connect the north of England to the south, the Northern Hub cements lateral links between northern cities. Many of them need attention. Research by the London School of Economics found that around 40% less commuting journeys are made between Leeds and Manchester, the north’s burgeoning commercial centres, than their proximity and status would imply. Integrate them more closely, as the Northern Hub will, by adding two more trains an hour (making six in total) and reducing journey times, and the labour pool ought to grow, making it easier to do business.
相比于HS2——英国所规划的连通英格兰南北部的高速铁路——北方交通枢纽项目更侧重于联结北部城市。许多北方城市需要被关注。伦敦经济学院所进行的调查表明大约40%的通勤旅行是在利兹到曼彻斯特——两个快速发展的北方商业中心——之间往来,考虑到他们的经济地位,这数量有些偏少。而北方交通枢纽项目将能够使每小时增开两班列车(总共六班),缩短旅行时间,从而使这两个城市之间的联系更紧密,同时扩展劳动力资源,使得商业运行更顺利。

Two new electrification projects being undertaken in concert with the hub complement it. These run in the north-west from Manchester to Liverpool and to Blackpool, and across the Pennines from Manchester to Leeds. Electric trains allow for greener, cheaper travel than their diesel cousins, and have more seats. Because they can accelerate and stop more quickly, they also speed up journeys.
随着枢纽项目的完工,两项新的电力机车项目也将开始建设。从曼彻斯特到利物浦与布莱克浦,以及跨过奔宁山脉,从曼彻斯特到利兹,列车将行驶在这两条西北部线路上。相比内燃机车,电力机车将更绿色更经济,且有更多的座位。由于电力机车能够更轻松地加速减速,所以旅行时间也被大大缩短。

All these projects should be finished by 2019, long before HS2. It is vital for the upgraded regional network to dovetail with the high-speed rail line, as the latter’s benefits are only fully realised if passengers can be efficiently delivered to its stations from local areas.
到2019年前这些项目都将完工,远早于HS2。对于升级地区铁路网络并使其与高速铁路对接,枢纽项目至关重要,因为高速铁路的便利,只有在乘客能够快速从本地抵达站点时方能体现。

The Northern Hub may be a case study in how infrastructure spending can boost an economy. A 2006 study of Britain’s transport system by Sir Rod Eddington, a former head of British Airways, advised the government to prioritise congested urban areas, key inter-urban corridors and international gateways. The Northern Hub tackles all three.
北方交通枢纽项目可能成为基础设施投资刺激经济发展的一个例子。罗德·爱丁顿爵士,英国航空公司的前任高层,曾于2006年对英国交通运输系统进行调查,并且建议政府优先建设拥挤的城市地区的、城市之间的、以及国际的通道。北方交通枢纽项目实践了上述三点建议。

It also demonstrates the importance of regional unity. The project can be traced back to 2004, when the north’s three regional development agencies (all since abolished) began a collaboration aimed at improving the area’s economy. This “Northern Way” ended up focusing on transport. Network Rail responded to its promptings with proposals to remove some of the bottlenecks around Manchester. It is often difficult for the north to get its voice heard, says Ed Cox of IPPR North, a think-tank. The consensus behind the Northern Hub made it hard to ignore.
这同时也证明了地区联合之重要。北方交通枢纽项目的建设可以追溯到2004年,三个北方地区发展机构(都已撤除)开始就发展本地区经济展开合作。这项”北方行动“最终达成了发展地区交通的共识。铁路网络公司对消除曼市周边线路瓶颈的提议做出了积极回应。”来自北方的声音常被忽视“,智库”Ed Cox of IPPR North“如是说。但关于北方枢纽项目的舆论共识使得它很难再被忽视。

The Northern Way’s success in pushing for better transport has led to calls for a permanent transfer of decision-making to a regional outfit. With the two northern rail franchises, Northern and TransPennine, due to be relet in the next couple of years, one option, already pitched to the Department for Transport, would be for their operations to be combined and devolved to a new body.
”北方行动“在争取更好的交通条件方面的成功已经引起了一种呼声,要求将决策权永久下放至地区机构。已经有一项提议被提交至交通部,要求未来几年内将迎来续租截止期的“北部“与”跨奔宁山“这两项铁路专营权能够合并,并且移交至新的主体。

That is a question for the future. For now, there is broad satisfaction that a transport project designed expressly to invigorate the north’s economy is about to pull out of the station.
这是一项未来的问题。现在,专用于刺激北方经济,且被广泛认可的,北部交通枢纽号”列车“,正在驶出站台。

From the print edition: Europe

最后编辑于
©著作权归作者所有,转载或内容合作请联系作者
  • 序言:七十年代末,一起剥皮案震惊了整个滨河市,随后出现的几起案子,更是在滨河造成了极大的恐慌,老刑警刘岩,带你破解...
    沈念sama阅读 206,378评论 6 481
  • 序言:滨河连续发生了三起死亡事件,死亡现场离奇诡异,居然都是意外死亡,警方通过查阅死者的电脑和手机,发现死者居然都...
    沈念sama阅读 88,356评论 2 382
  • 文/潘晓璐 我一进店门,熙熙楼的掌柜王于贵愁眉苦脸地迎上来,“玉大人,你说我怎么就摊上这事。” “怎么了?”我有些...
    开封第一讲书人阅读 152,702评论 0 342
  • 文/不坏的土叔 我叫张陵,是天一观的道长。 经常有香客问我,道长,这世上最难降的妖魔是什么? 我笑而不...
    开封第一讲书人阅读 55,259评论 1 279
  • 正文 为了忘掉前任,我火速办了婚礼,结果婚礼上,老公的妹妹穿的比我还像新娘。我一直安慰自己,他们只是感情好,可当我...
    茶点故事阅读 64,263评论 5 371
  • 文/花漫 我一把揭开白布。 她就那样静静地躺着,像睡着了一般。 火红的嫁衣衬着肌肤如雪。 梳的纹丝不乱的头发上,一...
    开封第一讲书人阅读 49,036评论 1 285
  • 那天,我揣着相机与录音,去河边找鬼。 笑死,一个胖子当着我的面吹牛,可吹牛的内容都是我干的。 我是一名探鬼主播,决...
    沈念sama阅读 38,349评论 3 400
  • 文/苍兰香墨 我猛地睁开眼,长吁一口气:“原来是场噩梦啊……” “哼!你这毒妇竟也来了?” 一声冷哼从身侧响起,我...
    开封第一讲书人阅读 36,979评论 0 259
  • 序言:老挝万荣一对情侣失踪,失踪者是张志新(化名)和其女友刘颖,没想到半个月后,有当地人在树林里发现了一具尸体,经...
    沈念sama阅读 43,469评论 1 300
  • 正文 独居荒郊野岭守林人离奇死亡,尸身上长有42处带血的脓包…… 初始之章·张勋 以下内容为张勋视角 年9月15日...
    茶点故事阅读 35,938评论 2 323
  • 正文 我和宋清朗相恋三年,在试婚纱的时候发现自己被绿了。 大学时的朋友给我发了我未婚夫和他白月光在一起吃饭的照片。...
    茶点故事阅读 38,059评论 1 333
  • 序言:一个原本活蹦乱跳的男人离奇死亡,死状恐怖,灵堂内的尸体忽然破棺而出,到底是诈尸还是另有隐情,我是刑警宁泽,带...
    沈念sama阅读 33,703评论 4 323
  • 正文 年R本政府宣布,位于F岛的核电站,受9级特大地震影响,放射性物质发生泄漏。R本人自食恶果不足惜,却给世界环境...
    茶点故事阅读 39,257评论 3 307
  • 文/蒙蒙 一、第九天 我趴在偏房一处隐蔽的房顶上张望。 院中可真热闹,春花似锦、人声如沸。这庄子的主人今日做“春日...
    开封第一讲书人阅读 30,262评论 0 19
  • 文/苍兰香墨 我抬头看了看天上的太阳。三九已至,却和暖如春,着一层夹袄步出监牢的瞬间,已是汗流浃背。 一阵脚步声响...
    开封第一讲书人阅读 31,485评论 1 262
  • 我被黑心中介骗来泰国打工, 没想到刚下飞机就差点儿被人妖公主榨干…… 1. 我叫王不留,地道东北人。 一个月前我还...
    沈念sama阅读 45,501评论 2 354
  • 正文 我出身青楼,却偏偏与公主长得像,于是被迫代替她去往敌国和亲。 传闻我的和亲对象是个残疾皇子,可洞房花烛夜当晚...
    茶点故事阅读 42,792评论 2 345

推荐阅读更多精彩内容

  • **2014真题Directions:Read the following text. Choose the be...
    又是夜半惊坐起阅读 9,389评论 0 23
  • 如果我足够令你骄傲 才会得到世界的拥抱 如果我被世界抛弃 你是否还会对我微笑 你以为我活的足够好 但只有我...
    三十嬷嬷阅读 234评论 0 1
  • 阿馨是我一个人的好姑娘,我希望好姑娘可以光芒万丈。 01. 最近坑爹的腾讯出现了一个新玩意,我相信你们看见我的图片...
    女子三酉阅读 1,198评论 27 27
  • ​秋天一到,贴秋膘可是大事,然而一胖毁所有,作为小伙伴,可能要违心地安慰对方一句“别担心,你不胖,你只是毛茸茸的”...
    小鲜侠FreshGeek阅读 272评论 0 1